Members of the Oro community in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, under the aegis of the Oro Community Association, have called on the Kwara State Government and other relevant institutions to enforce the 2019 Supreme Court judgment on traditional royal matters concerning their community.
In a statement jointly signed by the Baale of Oro, Chief Raphael Olateju Afolabi, and the President of the Oro Community Association, Professor James Bababode Bojuwoye, through the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Adebayo Olodan, the community stated that it constitutes contempt of court to ascribe a title or name not historically linked to their community.
Despite their concerns, the community reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and harmony with neighboring communities in the area.
The association also advised the newly installed traditional ruler of Oro Kingdom, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye, to desist from using titles such as Oloro of Oro, Oloro of Oro Land, or Oloro of Oro Kingdom.
It is worth recalling that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by his deputy, Kayode Alabi, presented the staff of office to Oba Titiloye as a Second-Class monarch on Sunday, October 27, 2024.
The Oro community emphasized that none of the eight communities within the Oro District is entitled to claim the titles of Oloro of Oro, Oba Oloro of Oro, or Oloro of Oro Land.
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“The title of Oloro of Oro or Oba Oloro of Oro Land is exclusive to our community. We use this opportunity to caution the newly installed Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye to refrain from using these titles or referring to himself as such,” the statement read.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we reiterate that following the Supreme Court judgment delivered on January 18, 2019, by Justice Mary Ukaegbo Odili and four other justices, our community, Oro, ceased to be part of the generic communities of Oro Kingdom.
“Based on this judgment, the palace of Oba Oyatoye Titiloye has no historical or traditional link to our community. The new traditional ruler does not have authority or control over the affairs of Oro and its people.”
The statement further asserted that Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye, his Traditional Council, and individuals from the eight communities in the Oro District lack the jurisdiction to attach any prefix or suffix to the name of their community, stressing that “Oro is Oro.”
“Any attempt to assign a name that does not belong to us is contempt of court and will be treated as such,” the statement concluded.
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